Root Causes of Sin

The Primary Causes of Sin

Pride - Rebellion - Guilt - Fear - Hiding - Death

2 Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, in Aramaic called Bethesda, which has five roofed colonnades. 3 In these lay a multitude of invalids — blind, lame, and paralyzed. 5 One man was there who had been an invalid for thirty-eight years. 6 When Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had already been there a long time, he said to him, “Do you want to be healed?” 7 The sick man answered him, “Sir, I have no one to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up, and while I am going another steps down before me.” 8 Jesus said to him, “Get up, take up your bed, and walk.” 9 And at once the man was healed, and he took up his bed and walked.

Now that day was the Sabbath. 10 So the Jews said to the man who had been healed, “It is the Sabbath, and it is not lawful for you to take up your bed.” 11 But he answered them, “The man who healed me, that man said to me, ‘Take up your bed, and walk.’” 12 They asked him, “Who is the man who said to you, ‘Take up your bed and walk’?” 13 Now the man who had been healed did not know who it was, for Jesus had withdrawn, as there was a crowd in the place.14 Afterward Jesus found him in the temple and said to him, “See, you are well! Sin no more, that nothing worse may happen to you.” (John 5:2-14 ESV)

This scripture makes it clear that in some situations, and probably more often than we realize, our sins have consequences which can show up as the degradation of our physical and mental health. The Lord, in his great mercy, healed this man and then He found him again and He spoke the truth to this man so that he could stay free! But ultimately it is our choice to either obey or to not obey the Lord and His word. Obeying brings blessing and disobedience (sin) brings corrective consequences. (see Due 11:26-28)

God in His great love for us gave us instructions, rules and commandments to follow because He loves us and knows which thoughts and actions will bring spiritual life and which will bring spiritual death. God is love (1 John 4:8) - it is His very nature and character. All that He requires of us comes out of His great love for us. He disciplines us because He loves us. He goes after the one lost sheep out of 100 because He does not desire that anyone be lost (Matt 18:14, 2 Pet 3:9). God also created us with free will which means we have the choice to do right or wrong, good or evil. He gave us the freedom to fail yet provides the way through Jesus Christ to be restored to fellowship with God. How great is His love!

Therefore we obey God, not as an obligation by works, but because we know He loves us and we want to show our gratitude and love for Him by doing what pleases Him.

All temptation is designed to get you to live your life independant of God - Plan B.